Rant: Why are kids' DIY kits so boring?

Bought one of those 'build your own birdhouse' kits for my 7yo thinking it'd be a fun weekend project. Instructions were overly complicated, pieces didn't fit together properly, and he lost interest after 20 minutes. $35 down the drain. There's gotta be a better option between "just hand them wood and nails" and these overpriced disappointing kits. Anyone found ones that actually work?